Result: Durham 2nd XI (227/4; Harte 124*) beat Worcestershire 2nd XI (219; McKiernan 5/45) by nine runs
Gareth Harte’s unbeaten ton set up a tense nine-run win for the Second XI over Worcestershire at New Road.
The 24-year-old, who has signed until the end of the season, struck 124* from 132 to anchor Neil Killeen’s side to a respectable 227/4 in a rain-reduced game of 45-overs-per-side.
Worcestershire’s reply was steady until the introduction of leg-spinner Mattie McKiernan, who took 5/45 to decimate the middle order.
And they fell nine runs short after number 11 Patrick Brown was run out with four balls remaining.
Harte struck 183 against Northants in a 2nd XI Championship game two weeks ago & continued his rich vein of form which saw him in contention for the First XI over the last two games.
He added 49 for the first wicket with captain Adam Hickey before then putting on 85 for the second wicket with Michael Jones, who made 27.
And he stepped up the run-rate to reach three figures and shared a 45-run partnership with Matthew Potts in the closing overs.
Graham Onions took the early wicket of George Rhodes but the hosts looked comfortable in pursuit, reaching 114/2.
Ollie Westbury reached fifty but became the first of McKiernan’s wickets as the leg-spinner, who played for Lancashire’s Academy, ripped through the middle order.
Potts also struck twice to leave Worcestershire facing defeat at 189/9 before a 30-run final partnership gave them hope.
But they fell short in the final over as Durham came away with two points ahead of today’s match with Lancashire.